Blackpool have appointed a new Sporting Director and re-appointed two Assistant Head Coaches as the club prepares for life back in League One according to the club’s official website.
David Downes arrives as Sporting Director having left his role as Head Of Recruitment at Sheffield Wednesday.
Iain Brunskill and Mike Garrity are reunited as assistants to returning Head Coach Neil Critchley.
Downes has a wealth of experience in the game and has spent the last four years as Wednesday’s Head of Recruitment and Analysis.
The son of former Blackpool winger Bobby Downes, the 56-year-old also enjoyed four years at Aston Villa as Head of Emerging Talent and as Head of Domestic Recruitment.
Meanwhile, Brunskill and Garrity return to Blackpool having previously been part of the back room staff during Critchley’s first spell in charge.
What Was Said?
David Downes said;“I am delighted to be joining Blackpool Football Club. The remit of being able to come in and massively impact the football department makes it an exciting challenge, which I am thoroughly looking forward to.
“I’m excited to get to work and look forward to helping the Club develop and achieve long term success.”
Blackpool owner and Chairman, Simon Sadler said; “I am pleased to welcome David to Blackpool in what is a crucial appointment for the football club.
“Over the course of his career, David has built a wide-ranging understanding of player recruitment and analysis from Academy up to first team level. He clearly understands what it takes to develop a sporting philosophy to encompass all areas of the football club.
“I look forward to working closely with him as we look to get this project back on track.”
On the re-appointment of Brunskill and Garrity, Critchley said;
“I’m delighted to welcome Mike and Iain back to Bloomfield Road.
“Every head coach needs an outstanding backroom team to support them, and in Mike and Iain, I know I have two people who share the same values as both me and the football club.
“Both Mike and Iain possess the necessary personal qualities and passion for their roles which will enable us to generate these conditions. This will give us the best chance of being successful together in the future.
“I look forward to working with both of them again and the existing staff at the club in what we all hope will be a successful season.”
Writer’s View
The Seasiders have endured a turbulent 12 months, which saw key staff arrive and depart and culminated in a miserable relegation from the Championship.
Critchley returned to the Bloomfield Road hot seat last month,having left the club almost exactly a year ago to team up with Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, a move which lasted just four months before the Liverpool legend and his staff were sacked. Critchley then took over at QPR, taking Brunskill and Garrity with him, but Critchley lasted just 11 games before being dismissed.
In Critchley’s absence, Blackpool’s 2022/23 season was nothing short of a mess. Michael Appleton was appointed as his successor, much to the dismay of a large section of the Bloomfield Road faithful who were opposed to his appointment from day one. Appleton, who had previously had a 61 day spell in charge of the club 10 years before, was always up against it and was sacked in January after a run of 10 games without a win. His replacement, the vastly experienced Mick McCarthy, fared little better, winning just two of his 14 games in charge before leaving in early April. Caretaker boss Stephen Dobbie re-energised the beleaguered squad, but it was not enough and despite winning three of his six matches, the Seasiders were relegated just two years after a glorious promotion via the playoffs at Wembley.
Behind the scenes, the situation mirrored the results on the pitch, with an apparently stable club just months before, descending into farce. Sadler and his board headhunted a new Sporting Director, poaching Chris Badlan from Coventry, but he departed abruptly in April.
Chief Executive; Ben Mansford and fellow board member, Brett Gerrity also announced their exits towards the end of the season.
Sadler though has acted to appoint David Downes, in what seems an ambitious appointment. Downes certainly has the credentials to help the club get back on track, with poor recruitment having been a major factor behind Blackpool returning to the third tier. With the re-appointments of Brunskill and Garrity, Critchley has his band back together and Seasiders fans will be hoping he can get a tune out of Blackpool and get them back to the Championship at the first attempt.
